This Is What Happens To Your Body After You Drink A Cup Of Coffee
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You are a coffee person. So am I. Can you think of starting your day without a steaming hot cuppa? What is it with this coffee high? Inquisitive, aren’t you? Some of the best things in my life have happened either over coffee, in a coffee shop, or because of coffee. The aroma of the beans is enough to stir me and get me going. If you know exactly what I mean, you should know why coffee makes you feel the way it does. Read on to know what happens in your body after you drink one cup of that hot coffee.
Let’s chalk the timeline out – starting from 10 minutes after you drink the cup to, say, 6 hours.
- 10 Minutes
That is all it takes for the caffeine in your coffee to enter your system. Within the first 10 minutes of gulping the espresso down, the coffee is absorbed into the bloodstream. In fact, the absorption into the bloodstream starts right in the mouth the moment you start sipping. The minute it enters the system, caffeine is broken down into theobromine, theophylline, and paraxanthine. These substances immediately start affecting certain functions of the body.
- 20 Minutes
The next change you sense is that you are more alert than before. This happens because the caffeine in your coffee mimics the substance called adenosine. This neurotransmitter adenosine, in fact, signals your brain that it is time to sleep. Since caffeine successfully mimics adenosine, it binds to the adenosine receptors. Now, the brain doesn’t recognize adenosine and hence makes you more alert and awake than before. This is why you crave for a cup of coffee when the feeling of drowsiness stops you from performing your best.
- 30 Minutes
By now, caffeine is already provoking the body to secrete adrenaline – the fight or flight hormone. You feel even more energized and are physically and mentally ready to face threats. However, some of the other effects of caffeine are that it dilates your pupils and hastens your heart rate, all of which cumulatively make you feel vigilant and vigorous.
- 40 Minutes
So, this was the coffee high I was talking about. In a matter of about 40 minutes, caffeine affects the release of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin. This hormone makes you feel elated and happy. Also, caffeine is known to ease depression and anxiety. However, when you consume too much caffeine, it makes you restless and irritable. In fact, it not only increases anxiety but also makes you sleepless (1). Mild amounts, i.e., less than 400 mg a day (2 cups) can give that feeling of wellness. Also, it helps you focus better and heightens your cognition temporarily.
- 4 Hours
What happens after 4 hours of drinking coffee? One, there is a release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Generally, the moment you drop food in your stomach, there is a release of this hormone. In fact, sometimes, even when you think of food, there is HCl release in the body. However, when you drink coffee, the body anticipates that there is some food that is being given, and the stomach has to digest it. This is why it promptly releases the acid. Alas! Unfortunately, there’s no food. Your gut might feel acidic a few hours after the consumption of coffee, more so if you don’t eat anything after that.
On the brighter side, caffeine promotes the breakdown of fat cells. This is why caffeine is a popular fat burner because it increases fat metabolism (2). The process of breaking down fat in the body is called lipolysis, and caffeine helps in initiating this process. It releases free fatty acids into the bloodstream that eventually get converted into energy. So, it not only burns fat but also boosts energy.
- 6 Hours
Didn’t you already visit the restroom a couple of times by now? Yes, this is because coffee is a diuretic. It affects the kidneys and increases your urine output. This is exactly why you must stay hydrated because this diuretic effect of coffee makes you lose too much water and some essential vitamins and minerals along with it. Make sure the body is replenished with the water and minerals that are lost because of caffeine.
Your brain absolutely loves the buzz it gets when the caffeine hits. However, what you should remember is that the high is temporary and gradually wears off after 6 hours of consumption. Also, when you go overboard and consume more than 400 mg of caffeine, you tend to build what is called the “caffeine tolerance.” This means that you require more caffeine than before to get that same buzz. In this process, you invariably consume more caffeine than the prescribed amount. If you are pregnant or have a chronic heart disease, it is better you refrain from this ‘magic drink.’
Ready for that second coffee cup, I suppose? What do you feel after your espresso shot? I’d love to hear all about it; please write in the comments section below.
